This 7-day tour is designed to give tour operators in the Faith Travel Association (a division of the National Tour Association) the opportunity to visit the key Mayflower sites in England, meet local suppliers and see highlights of other faith based connections in England. The tour is made possible by Discover England Fund ‘US Connections’ Project, Mayflower 400 (UK), Select Travel Service, and Reformation Tours.

The Mayflower 400 program commemorates the legacy of the passengers and crew who undertook the journey from Plymouth, England on September 16, 1620. Over 20 million US citizens descended from the Mayflower. Research conducted by Mayflower 400 (UK) evidences a real demand for these descendants to visit England and ‘follow in the footsteps of their Pilgrim Ancestors’.

There are eleven core Mayflower destinations in England, working with wider local, national and international partners as part of the modern-day Mayflower compact. These destinations will deliver a world-class series of events, public art and wider content that will commemorate this exceptional voyage. For the first time, all 11 destinations have come together to create a visitor trail that follows the story of the Pilgrims, their early Separatist ideas, the ship and the final voyage – through villages, towns, cities and ports of England. In addition to providing this new visitor experience, the commemorations will knit together communities, inspire creativity and culture, drive economic growth, and promote understanding and education.

Mayflower 400 will champion the values of freedom, faith and personal liberty that informed the original journey, and which continue to be articulated in the special relationship between the UK, US and Netherlands. At the same time, the commemoration will recognize the impact of the Mayflower’s journey on Native American communities and address themes of colonialism and migration, providing an accurate, inclusive account of the Mayflower’s legacy.

Together, Mayflower 400 will draw inspiration from our past to steer our future – from now, to 2020, and for generations to come.

Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Flights and pre-tour arrangements can be made through Reformation Tours.

Day 1: Monday, September 3, 2018: London, Southampton, PlymouthWe will meet at Heathrow Airport at 9:00 AM and travel to Southampton, where our local expert guide will take us on a guided walk describing Southampton as it would have been in 1620. We will hear about the provisioning of the Speedwell and Mayflower ships, and see their departure point. This is now commemorated with a Pilgrim Fathers Memorial, which was unveiled in 1913. After a provided lunch at the Grand Cafe, we will continue on towards Plymouth. Dinner tonight will be at the Glazebrook House Hotel. We will have 2 overnights in the Crowne Plaza, Plymouth. (IF/L/D)

Day 2: Tuesday, September 4, 2018: PlymouthOur day in Plymouth will include the Mayflower steps, the cobbled streets of the historic Barbican area, seeing Sutton Harbour by boat, enjoying a group lunch in the Rockfish Seafood Restaurant by the waterfront and a guided tour of the local Plymouth Gin Distillery with samples for those who wish. We will hear about “The Box” a brand new museum and heritage centre which will be open in time for the 400th anniversary. Dinner tonight will be in the Barbican Kitchen. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Wednesday, September 5, 2018: GloucesterWe will drive up to Gloucester and will be welcomed into town by Town Crier Alan Myatt. We will have a guided tour of Gloucester Cathedral and hear about the USA connections. John Stafford Smith, who composed the music for the Star Spangled Banner, was born in 1750 and christened in Gloucester Cathedral. After a classic ploughman’s lunch in the cathedral a local guide will take us on an informative walk of the city and docks. Our overnight accommodations are in the Bowden Hall Hotel in Gloucester. We will dine in the Queens Head in Longford. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Thursday, September 6, 2018: Worcester, Droitwich Spa, RetfordThis morning we will drive up to the “Faithful” City of Worcester. The town earned this name because of its unwavering support of the king during the English Civil War. We will tour Worcester Commandery and Cathedral, where Hugh Latimer, the famous martyr, was bishop. We will also see the tomb of King John, who signed the Magna Carta. Lunch will be in the Cloister Cafe. Droitwich Spa is the birthplace of Edward Winslow, a Mayflower passenger and leader in the Plymouth Colony. We will visit St Peter’s Church and see the Winslow Memorial. Mid-afternoon we will travel to the Nottingham area and tour the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, followed by dinner in the Forest Lodge. We will spend two nights in the Ye Olde Bell Hotel, near Nottingham. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Friday, September 7, 2018: Pilgrim Roots, LincolnExpert guide Sue Allan will take us on a tour of local sites that would have been very familiar to the Mayflower Pilgrims. We will visit Babworth church where William Brewster and William Bradford came together under Richard Clyfton’s leadership. Further stops then include Brewster’s home village of Scrooby, Bradford’s parish church and his house at Austerfield. In Gainsborough we will have lunch, then a tour of the medieval Old Hall, where the Separatists met in secret. In the afternoon, Adrian from Pilgrims and Prophets will take us to Epworth and Glentworth. We will attend evensong in Lincoln Cathedral, then have a twilight tour of Lincoln Castle. Dinner tonight is in the White Hart Hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Saturday, September 8, 2018: Boston, LincolnshireWe will check-out of our hotel after breakfast, and drive to Boston, a port town on the East coast. In 1607, a group of pilgrims walked 60 miles from Scrooby to Boston to meet a ship to take them to Holland. We will see the memorial in Fishtoft of where they waited for the boat. They were betrayed and instead of a new life, they were arrested and taken to the Guildhall. We will see the cells where they were held,and St. Botolph’s Church, known as “Boston Stump”, is one of England’s largest parish churches. Rev. John Cotton urged members of his congregation to join the Massachusetts Bay Company, and he helped found the city of Boston in the 1630s. The Puritan Path leading to the church is in his honor. Journeying south we will arrive in the county of Hertfordshire, a delightful rural county that borders North London and will visit Knebworth House. We will end the day with dinner in The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Sunday, September 9, 2018: Depart After breakfast, there is one included group transfer to Heathrow. Other transfers are not included. (B)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

The meeting point is Heathrow Terminal 3 by 9 AM on Sunday, September 3. Rowena will be at the meeting point from 7:00 AM onwards.

The departure is from Heathrow on Sunday, September 9 and you are encouraged to be in the Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall no later than 9:30 AM.

What’s included in the tour price?

Land transportation via private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach

All transfers as a group from Heathrow Airport

Single occupancy accommodations in 4 and 5-star hotels

Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary

Rowena Drinkhouse as host

Local guides for city tours

Travel insurance for the land portion of the tour. Upgrades are available to cover air.

All other taxes and tips for provided services

Your Tour Does Not Include:

Air transportation and related taxes and fees

Meals, other than as indicated above

Items of a personal nature, such as passport fees

Gratuities for local guides and driver

Payment Schedule

The deadline to sign-up is July 27, 2018, but early registration is encouraged. You will be sent an invoice once you have been accepted on the trip. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.

Insurance

We offer travel insurance through RoamRight, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We will cover the land portion of the tour and you are welcome to upgrade to cover your flights.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $250 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.

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Welcome to the Tour!

This tour is designed for members of the Faith Travel Association who are interested in promoting Mayflower-themed tours to the UK.

Sign up for the tour

You can fill out your reservations online by clicking the “Apply Now” tab. We will send you an invoice once you’re accepted on the tour (space is limited).

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan byRoam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. A quote will be automatically added to your invoice.

Facebook Group

You are invited to join our Mayflower 400Facebook group. There are regular Mayflower-related posts about the UK, USA, and the Netherlands. Guest posts are welcome.

Map of the Tour

Click on the map to see a larger version. The numbers refer to overnights in these locations.